Hidden Figures: How to Keep from Becoming One

Last month, my daughter and I saw the movie Hidden Figures. I‘m not sure it’s still in the movie theater, however, I highly recommend you rent or stream it for a mother-daughter or girls-night-in. The Women’s March took place right on the heels of the movie’s release so if you attended the march and saw the movie I’m certain you were on cloud nine. Personally, it made me double proud to be a woman and a Black woman at that.

Life is filled with many teachable moments and Hidden Figures has many. Here are several I gleaned from the movie.

Cultivate your gifts and talents

When you recognize that you are gifted in a particular area do what you can to enhance your skills and stay sharp. Don’t wait for permission to be successful, instead invest the time, money, and energy into always being at the top of your game.

Learn to Turn a No into a Yes

No one in this world should believe in you more than you believe in yourself. If you are entering into a situation fully prepared and your gut or instinct say that you are ready for that promotion, new project, or opportunity then don’t let other people talk you out of it. Believe in yourself enough to get creative about how you can turn their no into a yes. This might involve seeking a mentor or creating a strategic plan that incrementally moves you closer to your goal.

When opportunity knocks answer, don’t assume it will leave a “Sorry we missed you card” and come back later. Staying ready means different things for different goals, but at the end of the day, there is some basic preparation that’s required. Stay intellectually ready by knowing your craft, stay emotionally ready to say yes, and stay socially ready by networking and increasing your circle of influence.

Don’t Play Games

When people try to steal your joy or dignity don’t allow them to bring you down to their level. Haters gonna hate, that’s what they do. Use their negative energy to give you the strength and the willpower to succeed. It’s not about proving them wrong because you don’t have anything to prove. It’s about staying true to yourself.

Know your Worth

Recognize that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You are perfect just the way you were created. Anything of necessity that you lack you can always work to improve. When you recognize your value you erase any self-doubt and your mere presence has a masterful effect on any space or position you occupy.

Eureka Moment

When the movie ended, I led the audience in a round of applause. I would have stood and cheered loudly, but my daughter was already embarrassed. I also shed a few tears because I was so proud of the legacy these women left behind and proud to call them my sisters. So, I decided that night that the following week I would work smarter. I vowed to stay true to my goals and not back down from adversity. In my own way, I will carry on the legacy of the women in Hidden Figures and all the women like them whose stories are yet to be told.

Dream Big

You may sometimes feel like a Hidden Figure in your world, but it doesn’t have to stay that way. You have the ability to make your work and your voice count and stand out from the crowd. Don’t become a part of the status quo. Let your light shine.

Question: If you haven’t seen it already check out the move Hidden Figures then ask, what do I need to do to be seen?

2 Comments

Nadine
on February 13, 2017 at 12:54 am

Tamara,

I shared these very same sentiments after seeing the film with my niece. She loves science and math and has been greatly influenced by learning about Katherine, Dorothy and Mary. I couldn’t agree more with you regarding recognizing your talents and nurturing them. I can’t imagine how difficult it was for Katherine’s parents to make the sacrifice to send her to a high school that was many, many miles from their home. In doing so, they contributed greatly to Katherine’s success and American history.

I felt the same way. She was so young. As a mother would I have made that sacrifice? I have friends who send their children to boarding school to (African American) and it’s an idea I struggle with, however, the best thing we can do as a parent is to nurture our child’s gift. They are adults longer than they are children so we have to prepare them.

Meta

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